John 7:35

At this, the Jews said to one another, “Where does He intend to go that we will not find Him? Will He go where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Jewish leaders question each other immediately after Jesus states they will seek Him but fail to find Him. They speculate whether He plans to travel to the diaspora among the Greeks to teach them.

The words — ποῦ (pou) means Where, and ἑαυτοὺς (heautous) means themselves. The construction πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς (pros heautous) records the Jews speaking directly to one another.

The thread — The theme of Jewish dispersion runs through James 1:1, Isaiah 11:12, and Zephaniah 3:10. These texts document the scattering of Israel and the subsequent gathering of the exiles.

Why it lands — The passage records the Jews assuming Jesus’ mission is limited to geographic and ethnic boundaries. Readers must examine whether they restrict divine action to familiar territories rather than following the declared trajectory.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

Cross-references

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
Isaiah 11:12 He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Zephaniah 3:10 From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers, My scattered people, will bring Me an offering.
1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
Isaiah 11:10 On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.
John 12:20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast.
Psalms 67:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
Psalms 98:2 The LORD has proclaimed His salvation and revealed His righteousness to the nations.
Isaiah 27:12 In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered one by one.
Isaiah 49:6 He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”